39 U.S. Code § 101 - Postal policy

(a)The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by Act of Congress, and supported by the people. The Postal Service shall have as its basic function the obligation to provide postal services to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people. It shall provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render postal services to all communities. The costs of establishing and maintaining the Postal Service shall not be apportioned to impair the overall value of such service to the people.

(b)The Postal Service shall provide a maximum degree of effective and regular postal services to rural areas, communities, and small towns where post offices are not self-sustaining. No small post office shall be closed solely for operating at a deficit, it being the specific intent of the Congress that effective postal services be insured to residents of both urban and rural communities.

(c)As an employer, the Postal Service shall achieve and maintain compensation for its officers and employees comparable to the rates and types of compensation paid in the private sector of the economy of the United States. It shall place particular emphasis upon opportunities for career advancements of all officers and employees and the achievement of worthwhile and satisfying careers in the service of the United States.

(d)Postal rates shall be established to apportion the costs of all postal operations to all users of the mail on a fair and equitable basis.

(e)In determining all policies for postal services, the Postal Service shall give the highest consideration to the requirement for the most expeditious collection, transportation, and delivery of important letter mail.

(f)In selecting modes of transportation, the Postal Service shall give highest consideration to the prompt and economical delivery of all mail. Modern methods of transporting mail by containerization and programs designed to achieve overnight transportation to the destination of important letter mail to all parts of the Nation shall be a primary goal of postal operations.

(g)In planning and building new postal facilities, the Postal Service shall emphasize the need for facilities and equipment designed to create desirable working conditions for its officers and employees, a maximum degree of convenience for efficient postal services, proper access to existing and future air and surface transportation facilities, and control of costs to the Postal Service.

2008—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–405substituted “mail.” for “mail and shall make a fair and equitable distribution of mail business to carriers providing similar modes of transportation services to the Postal Service.”

Pub. L. 108–447, div. J, title III, § 301(a),Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3350, provided that: “This title [amending section
5402 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Rural Air Service Improvement Act of 2004’.”

Short Title of 2003 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–86, § 1,Sept. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 1052, provided that: “This Act [amending section
1004 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section
1004 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Postmasters Equity Act of 2003’.”

Short Title of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–206, title III, § 3002(a),Aug. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 910, provided that: “This title [amending section
5402 of this title, section
2703 of Title
19, Customs Duties, section
1626 of Title
43, Public Lands, and section
41901 of Title
49, Transportation, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section
5402 of this title, section
112 of Title
1, General Provisions, and sections
2703 and
3203 of Title
19] may be cited as the ‘Rural Service Improvement Act of 2002’.”

Short Title of 2001 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–67, title VI, § 650(a),Nov. 12, 2001, 115 Stat. 556, provided that: “This section [amending section
414 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section
414 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act of 2001’.”

Short Title of 2000 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–253, § 1,July 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 634, provided that: “This Act [enacting section
416 of this title, amending section
414 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections
414 and
416 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Semipostal Authorization Act’.”

Short Title of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–241, § 1,Sept. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 1572, provided that: “This Act [enacting section
415 of this title and amending sections
404 and
3622 of this title, section
7902 of Title
5, Government Organization and Employees, and sections
652 and
668 of Title
29, Labor] may be cited as the ‘Postal Employees Safety Enhancement Act’.”

Short Title of 1997 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–41, § 1,Aug. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1119, provided that: “This Act [enacting section
414 of this title and provisions set out as a note under section
414 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act’.”

Short Title of 1993 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–123, title VII, § 701(a),Oct. 28, 1993, 107 Stat. 1267, provided that: “This title [enacting section
3642 of this title, amending sections
410,
2401,
3202,
3601,
3625 to
3627, and
3683 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections
2401,
3621,
3626, and
3683 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Revenue Forgone Reform Act’.”